Israel must adhere to 'rules of coexistence for humanity' [Why Not]

The ongoing conflict and the plight of Palestinians demand a critical re-evaluation of Israel's actions and the international community's response. The assertion that historical claims justify territorial control is a dangerous precedent, threatening the very foundations of global order. If such logic were accepted, numerous nations could lay claim to vast swathes of land based on ancient empires, leading to perpetual conflict. The fundamental principle of justice, even predating international law, dictates that the forceful seizure of property must be met with fair compensation. For over seven decades since its establishment, Israel has failed to adhere to this basic moral tenet. Instead of providing restitution or acknowledging the displacement of millions of Palestinians, Israel has pursued the expansion of settlements, further entrenching the occupation and denying refugees their rights.

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If you can claim ownership of land based on history from 2,000 years ago, then there is no safe place left on this earth.

Israel's refusal to compensate Palestinians is rooted in a strategic calculation: acknowledging the need for compensation would implicitly admit to the illegitimacy of its actions and potentially validate claims for the right of return for refugees. This fear, stemming from the desire to maintain a 'Jewish state,' leads to a denial of basic human rights and perpetuates a cycle of violence. It is a profound irony that a nation founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, a period when the rights of a minority were brutally disregarded, now employs similar tactics against another population. Germany's post-war reparations to Israel, a testament to the necessity of atonement and compensation for historical wrongs, stand in stark contrast to Israel's current stance.

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The principle of civilization is clear: what is forcibly taken must be compensated.

History serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of unresolved grievances. The punitive Treaty of Versailles, imposed on Germany after World War I, sowed the seeds for an even more devastating conflict. Conversely, the Marshall Plan, which aided in rebuilding post-war Europe, fostered decades of peace. These examples illustrate that sustainable peace is not built on suppression but on reconciliation and justice. The current situation in Gaza is a brutal manifestation of what happens when 'forceful suppression' replaces compensation and recognition. Suppressed anger does not vanish; it festers, becoming more potent across generations. Any resolution that bypasses the fundamental need for material compensation and historical acknowledgment for the Palestinian people is merely a temporary pause before the next inevitable conflict.

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The tragedy of the Holocaust, where the rights of the weak were ignored in the face of Nazi madness, is most keenly felt by a people who are now reproducing the logic of the strong and trampling on the rights of others.

The international community, particularly the United States, must cease its complicity in this injustice. Unconditional support for Israel, devoid of a commitment to these core principles, only fuels further violence. The expansion of this conflict, from Palestine to Iran, demonstrates the inevitable trajectory of unchecked power dynamics. The Middle East is not merely a regional flashpoint; it is a test of humanity's commitment to the 'rules of coexistence.' Failure in this test risks plunging the entire world into a state of perpetual conflict, a return to a Hobbesian 'war of all against all.' Israel must now take the initiative, beginning the process of restitution, as this is the only viable path toward a shared future.

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History has proven what kind of tragedy results from a solution that the defeated cannot accept. The Treaty of Versailles, which imposed unilateral humiliation on Germany after World War I, led to a more horrific world war within 20 years.